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Grassley says bugs in health IT software endangering patients, other HIT news

RadioIowa reports that Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley says hospital officials around the country are seeing bugs in new health information technology software that are putting patients at risk. "'Over the last few months, concerns have been brought to my attention including administrative complications, formatting and usability issues, errors in interoperability,' Grassley says. 'Some health care providers have said the software is producing incorrect medication dosages because it miscalculated body weights by interchanging kilograms and pounds.'" Grassley is asking 32 hospitals for statements on the problem (Kelley, 1/19).

21 Jan 2010

RMC selects Allscripts EDIS to improve access to clinical information

Allscripts announced today that Northeast Alabama Regional Medical Center (RMC) has selected the Allscripts Emergency Department Information System (EDIS) to automate emergency operations and improve access to clinical information.

21 Jan 2010

Twenty-five percent of Americans surveyed favor health care reform legislation

Twenty-five percent of Americans surveyed favor the health care reform legislation proposed by Congress, according to a survey just conducted by LIMRA.

21 Jan 2010

"Fast track" deficit commission opposed

Progressive leaders representing more than 50 groups will join together in a news conference call this morning to oppose Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., and Sen. Judd Gregg's, D-N.H., controversial plan to create a "fast track" deficit commission.

21 Jan 2010

Congress urged to stop child maltreatment deaths

As part of a campaign to stop child abuse and neglect deaths, National Children's Alliance and its partners – the Every Child Matters Education Fund, the National Association of Social Workers, and the National District Attorneys Association – are running ads that urge Congress to address the fatalities that claim the lives of innocent children every day. Specifically, the advertisements ask Congress to hold hearings and provide emergency funds to stop state cuts in child protective services.

21 Jan 2010

Newspaper editors join in call for greater transparency in health talks

The Washington Times: The American Society of News Editors on Tuesday joined C-SPAN in calling for "more openness and transparency" on health care reform.

21 Jan 2010

OA urges patients to stop smoking before surgery to protect their own health

During National Non-Smoking Week, Ontario's Anesthesiologists (OA) are once again urging patients to stop smoking before surgery in order to protect their own health. In addition, Ontario's Anesthesiologists estimate that if every smoker scheduled for surgery stopped 6-8 weeks prior to their procedure, approximately $122 million could be saved by the health care system.

21 Jan 2010

Vivian and Seymour Milstein Family Heart Center to open to patients in February

Ushering in a new era in comprehensive cardiac care, the Vivian and Seymour Milstein Family Heart Center celebrated its opening today at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center.

21 Jan 2010

NHC urges congress to continue work on meaningful healthcare reform

The National Health Council (NHC), an organization providing a united voice for the more than 133 million people with chronic diseases and disabilities and their family caregivers, today sent a letter to Congress urging the House and Senate to "continue working to accomplish the long-sought goal of health care reform."

21 Jan 2010

Second earthquake hits Haiti as international relief efforts continue

"A strong earthquake struck Haiti on Wednesday morning, shaking buildings and sending screaming people running into the streets only eight days after the country's capital was devastated by a previous quake," the Canadian Press reports. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the 6.1 magnitude quake was approximately 35 miles northwest of the capital of Port-au-Prince. "It was not immediately possible to ascertain what additional damage the new quake may have caused," the news service writes (Faul, 1/20).

21 Jan 2010

THCA concerned over pressure on state and federal funding for Texas' nursing home residents

The President of the Texas Health Care Association (THCA), Tim Graves, today expressed concern about the growing cumulative pressure on the critical state and federal funding needed to preserve and protect Texas' most vulnerable nursing home residents. Specifically, Graves warned that sharp federal Medicare cuts already put in place by the Obama Administration in late 2009 – as well as those contained within the pending federal health care reform bill – must be a key consideration as state lawmakers begin assessing budgetary priorities in the face of looming state budget deficits.

21 Jan 2010

InterLingua Medical Publishing introduces Medical Point2's to solve language barriers in health care

According to US Census, some 37 million Americans five years of age and older —nearly one in eight residents of this country—speak a language other than English at home.

21 Jan 2010

Stem Cell Assurance performs first regenerative cell breast augmentation surgery

Stem Cell Assurance, Inc. announced today that Arthur Handal, MD., F.A.C.S. has performed the first regenerative cell breast augmentation through its nationwide physician network. The procedure was performed at Handal Plastic Surgery in Boca Raton, Florida in the practice's onsite accredited ambulatory surgical facility.

21 Jan 2010

FORBA Holdings to pay $24M for resolving Medicaid fraud allegations

The United States today announced that it has settled False Claims Act allegations against FORBA Holdings LLC, a dental management company that provides business management and administrative services to 69 clinics nationwide known as "Small Smiles Centers." Under the agreement, FORBA will pay the United States and participating states $24 million, plus interest, to resolve allegations that it caused bills to be submitted to state Medicaid programs for medically unnecessary dental services performed on children insured by Medicaid, which is funded jointly by the federal and state governments.

21 Jan 2010

Sanofi-aventis U.S. brings national experts together to help aging Americans with AFib

National medical and lifestyle experts have been brought together by sanofi-aventis U.S. to help aging Americans learn to live life more fully despite a serious and increasingly prevalent heart condition – atrial fibrillation (AFib), a type of irregular heartbeat.

21 Jan 2010

Medco Health Solutions launches Medco TRC for oncology patients

Medco Health Solutions, Inc. today announced the launch of the Medco Therapeutic Resource Center® (TRC) for oncology patients headquartered in Whitestown, Ind., where specialist pharmacists will manage the company's more than 850,000 patients currently living with cancer, one of the fastest growing segments of healthcare.

21 Jan 2010

Health reform: Divided Democrats consider next steps

The Washington Post: "Unless Democrats can thread a very narrow legislative needle, Republican Scott Brown's upset victory over Martha Coakley in Massachusetts on Tuesday could lead to the collapse of a health-care bill that, only weeks ago, appeared close to becoming law." Though Democratic leaders have tried, in public, to be positive that the health bill "could remain on course," there are increasing concerns that moderates will now "begin to back away from the legislation, fearing its political effects."

21 Jan 2010

Blue Cross Blue Shield accepts grant proposals from elementary schools to reduce childhood obesity

Childhood obesity in America is a major public health issue. Blue Cross Blue Shield, committed to building a healthier Michigan, is partnering with schools across the state to get kids moving and eating healthier.

21 Jan 2010

KHN column: Give nurses a bigger role in improving health care

In a column for Kaiser Health News, Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, writes the following: "Skilled health provider. Sympathetic caregiver. Trusted dispenser of medicines. Capable interpreter of complicated medical instructions.

21 Jan 2010

Knowledge Ventures appeals for orthopaedic hardware for Haiti victims

Knowledge Ventures has put out a plea to all orthopaedic professionals to assist in the effort to get much needed orthopaedic hardware to the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. It has arranged in partnership with ORTHOWORLD Inc. to open a public thread at www.orthoworld.com in order to connect the world to the effort.

21 Jan 2010